i would go to spca and look at dogs..i saw some lab mix there and they looked real nice..if you are not going to be hunting a lot , this is what i would do..

also mix dog should have less health problems at times..i seen that over years too,many full bred dogs had all kinds of problems and that mix dog,well, they just did not have issues ..

i owned a few different breeds, i like the beagles but smartest dog i have seen is dog with lab in it..nice around home with kids..